Lin Chaoyang's words were a bit ambiguous, Tao Ran said: "I hope to see this novel adapted to the screen as soon as possible!"

"Thanks."

After the interview, Lin Chaoyang took the initiative to invite the editors of "Hong Kong Literature" to have a meal.

In Xiangjiang, persisting in pure literature is a hard job, with little money and a smaller audience. The fact that these people can persevere is something worthy of admiration.

The dining venue was chosen at a restaurant in Taikoo Shing. During the dinner, the two young men from the editorial department were very warm to Lin Chaoyang and asked a lot about the details in the novel. They were loyal readers at first sight.

Liu Yi drank some red wine, his face was rosy, and he said with emotion: "Chaoyang, your novel is meritorious!"

Everyone understands what he means. In East Asian society, death has always been extremely taboo, and everything related to death has naturally become taboo.

The discussion of life and death in "The Examiner" breaks the taboo topic that has always been taboo in East Asian society, arousing the resonance of life and death among many readers, making death less scary in the hearts of readers.

Including the confusion about career choices, the maintenance of professional dignity and the handling of family relationships in the novel, many readers have deeply resonated with it.

To give the most intuitive example, in Hong Kong society everyone is very taboo on the funeral industry. Many families are not even willing to allow relatives in this industry to attend weddings.

But after reading the novel "Enter the Master", at least within the scope of Liu Yi's knowledge, everyone's impression of practitioners has greatly changed and they began to respect them.

Listening to Liu Yi's words, everyone couldn't help but nod in approval.

Tao Ran said: "Perhaps the change in Hong Kong people's views on death and funerals will begin with this novel."

Lin Chaoyang said modestly: "How can it have such a big influence?"

"Subtle and subtle, good literary works have such a great influence." Tao Ran said firmly.

Lin Chaoyang smiled and shook his head, not arguing with him.

If that's the case, of course it's better.

At around nine o'clock in the evening, Lin Chaoyang came home a little drunk, and Tao Yushu said that Dong Qiao would come to see him at home in the afternoon.

"What happened?" Lin Chaoyang asked.

"Said the Chinese University of Hong Kong wants to find you."

"What can they ask me to do? Give a speech?"

"I want to award you an honorary doctorate."

Listening to Tao Yushu's words, Lin Chaoyang was half drunk.

"Give me a degree? What's going on? I didn't graduate from their school."

"No one stipulates that you must be an alumnus of our school to receive an honorary degree!"

Tao Yushu seemed very happy. She had grown up in Yanda since she was a child and had a strong attachment to academic qualifications and prestigious schools. The Chinese University of Hong Kong wanted to award Lin Chaoyang a degree, so she was naturally happy.

"You didn't donate money to their school, did you?" Lin Chaoyang asked with a strange expression.

Tao Yushu rolled her eyes at him charmingly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

This conversation between the couple has a meaning.

In 1986, Jin Yong donated 8 million Hong Kong dollars to Hong Kong University and subsequently received an honorary doctorate in social sciences.

Because the donations came first and the doctorate came last, last year Huang Kangxian, a senior lecturer at Xiangjiang University, uncovered this matter and published an article in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, criticizing Jin Yong.

After Huang Kangxian's article was published, Jin Yong was extremely angry and entrusted a lawyer to send a lawyer's letter to Huang Kangxian, demanding that the other party publish an apology in the newspaper and compensate for reputational damage.

Given Jin Yong's current status in Hong Kong's business and cultural circles, he was somewhat inferior to refuting the words of a school lecturer in such a big way.

The key is that Huang Kangxian was not lying. After receiving Jin Yong's lawyer's letter, he responded to Jin Yong in the newspaper with reason and evidence, which made the old comrades look disgraced.

Jin Yong strived to be a decent person all his life, but he didn't expect his face to be pulled off and rubbed in his old age.

After realizing that this would only make him a public laughing stock, Jin Yong decisively chose to remain silent.

Eventually, as time went by, no one cared about it.

As soon as Tao Yushu said that he wanted to be awarded an honorary degree by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lin Chaoyang immediately thought of Jin Yong.

Speaking of respectability, Ta Lin is much more respectable than Jin Yong, and he doesn't want to be disgraced for an honorary degree.

"A degree in Xiangjiang is so expensive, I'm not willing to buy it for you." Tao Yushu said jokingly.

"Be careful not to let our shareholders hear what you say."

The couple exchanged a few words before Lin Chaoyang picked up the phone and called Dong Qiao back.

When he asked why the Chinese University of Hong Kong wanted to award him an honorary degree, Dong Qiao said: "Let's talk about it tomorrow."

The next morning, Lin Chaoyang and Dong Qiao made an appointment to meet at Lan Fong Yuan. Dong Qiao was accompanied by a gentle man in a suit.

"Chaoyang, let me introduce to you, this is Li Guoneng, chairman of the school committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong."

The school board is usually composed of leaders, middle-level cadres and the backbone of the school. It is different in Xiangjiang. Social elites often participate in it.

The chairman of the school committee has so much power that he can check and balance the principal.

Li Guoneng was born in the Li family of Hong Kong, with a prominent family background. He graduated from Oxford University and became a barrister after returning to Hong Kong. He only joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong this year.

Lin Chaoyang and Li Guoneng shook hands and exchanged greetings before taking their seats. Speaking of which, Lin Chaoyang also had some friendship with Li Zhaofu of the Li family, and Li Zhaofu was Li Guoneng's youngest uncle.

When Lam's Pictures successfully acquired Yulang Agency, Li Zhaofu contributed a lot.

Although Li Zhaofu has now faded out of the securities industry, the two parties still occasionally talk on the phone.

However, the Li family has a great business and there is no harmony between the brothers. Especially Li Zhaofu has a strong character and has many conflicts with several brothers in the family. Therefore, Lin Chaoyang and Li Guoneng both made a tacit understanding and did not mention this matter.

Dong Qiao was a senior lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the 1970s, and he was very familiar with Lin Chaoyang, so Li Guoneng found him to be the middleman.

The university community in Hong Kong has always studied European and American universities, and from time to time they will contact celebrities to award honorary degrees.

The purpose behind it is also simple. Colleges and universities need connections to organize activities and make donations. These honorary degrees awarded will then become the school's connections.

Moreover, most colleges and universities are concerned with saving face at this time. If you ask them to go to those well-known rich people to do these things, they will not be able to live with it.

Lin Chaoyang is a very good person. He has a well-known literary name, a prosperous family business, and complete fame and fortune. He is completely the most ideal candidate to award an honorary degree.

As for the reason, the Chinese University of Hong Kong has already thought of it.

"Over the years, Lin Sheng's works have nourished countless readers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and three places and have sold well at home and abroad.

When you won the French Renaudeau Literature Prize the year before last, our school discussed this matter.

However, at that time, some people still had conservative ideas and believed that if a degree was to be awarded, it would have to be a few years later, otherwise it would be difficult to convince the public.

When I took office as the chairman of the school committee this year, this was the first thing that came to my mind.

With Lin Sheng’s literary name, honors and contributions to Chinese literature, it should be an honor for us at CUHK to be able to award you an honorary degree.”

Li Guoneng is worthy of being a lawyer by training, and he has a sharp tongue that makes it impossible for anyone to refuse what he says.

After some discussion, Lin Chaoyang readily accepted the matter.

However, honorary degrees are not awarded immediately. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has four honorary doctorate awards every year, and the honorary degree ceremony will be held in mid-October every year.

Those days happened to be the anniversary of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Holding such an event could bring together many celebrities, which would have the advantage of attracting attention to the school.

After the business was settled, Li Guoneng took his leave and left. Dong Qiao asked about the listing of Ming Pao Group.

"You're a person who has made a clear report, isn't it appropriate to ask me about this kind of thing?"

"You are not from Ming Pao, you are the owner of Ming Pao."

"Mr. Cha will be unhappy if he hears what you said!"

Although Ming Pao has now changed ownership, Jin Yong is still the nominal chairman.

"How would he know if you didn't tell me?"

Of course they were joking.

Dong Qiao is a senior executive of Ming Pao Group. If the company is successfully listed, senior executives like them will also benefit from it.

Although he is a scholar, he is not exempt from vulgarity.

It is true that he works in Ming Pao, but he manages the newspaper business and has no involvement in things like going public.

"Don't think about it. It will be listed next year. You executives will definitely benefit from it."

When he returned home in the evening, Tao Yushu took the initiative to ask Lin Chaoyang about his meeting with Dong Qiao today.

After hearing what Lin Chaoyang said, she looked excited, "I will definitely attend the day when the degrees are awarded!"

Lin Chaoyang joked: "How about I ask them to send one to you too?"

"You just say it?"

"It's not unusual to have several a year."

Tao Yushu said seriously: "No matter how many honorary degrees there are, it is a kind of recognition. Compared with money and status recognition, this kind of recognition gives people a greater sense of accomplishment."

"Dr. Tao builds a high-end house!"

Lin Chaoyang gave him a flattery, which earned his beloved wife an angry look.

In early September, the costume film "The Love of the Qin Terracotta Warriors" produced by Lam Pictures was released. The film invested 15 million Hong Kong dollars and was directed by Zhang Yimou, who won the Golden Bear Award, and Cheng Xiaodong, a well-known director in Hong Kong, served as the assistant director.

In terms of actors, Zhang Yimou plays the male lead and Gong Li plays the female lead.
To be continued...